Representatives of the Medical Technology Association of India, Advance Medical Technology Association, AmCham Medical Devices Committee, AmCham Medical Devices Committee, Healthcare Federation of India, and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries, discussed ways to strengthen healthcare delivery under Ayushman Bharat a government program to enable the bottom 40 percent of India’s population access healthcare for free.
Pavan Choudary, chairman of the Medical Technology Association of India said that Ayushman Bharat can “provide a new ecosystem in healthcare business which can sprout a thousand new ladders of commercial success.”
Probir Das, senior vice president, Healthcare Federation of India suggested that the cost of medical devices should not be included in procedure costs. He added that since “International MedTech companies use their global network to train physicians and develop modern therapies in India, they should be considered as a vital pillar for consultation and program development.”
Madan Krishnan, chairman, AdvaMed, said, “The next stage of today’s constructive dialogue is industry-government dialogue to enhance impact and success of the [Ayushman] program. The MedTech industry can actively partner with the government and providers to transform healthcare in India by structuring effective patient care pathways along with outcome based models.”
Vinod K. Paul, member of government think tank NITI Aayog, urged the international fraternity to help strengthen the Ayushman Bharat plan going forward. “They have a strong R&D, can bring investments for Make in India, set up health and wellness centers through their corporate social responsibility initiatives, and train healthcare professionals. I would like to ask the fraternity to come up with ideas on how they can contribute to the scheme,” he reasoned.